Discarding sabot projectiles

• US 3,905,299 A
• Filed: 10/23/1973
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fritz K. Feldmann
• Original Assignee: Fritz K. Feldmann
• Inventors: Feldmann, Fritz K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jordan, C. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/408,379
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 102/52,93,94,92.2,92.3,92.4
• US Class Current: 102/522
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/064 Sabots enclosing the rear end of a kinetic energy projectile, i.e. having a closed disk shaped obturator base and petals extending forward from said base

Abstract

A discarding sabot projectile of novel construction is provided whereby separation of the components is accomplished by the combined effect of centrifugal force and the impingement of muzzle gases from the exhausting gun barrel. The sabot preferably comprises a metallic base incorporating means to impart spin to the projectile, and a plastic body firmly surrounding and supporting a sub-caliber core so that the longitudinal axis of the sub-caliber core is coincident with the axis of the full caliber projectile. The plastic body includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, or similar weakening lines, beginning at the rear of the plastic body and extending forward toward the tapered nose. Immediately after discharge from the muzzle, the sabot body starts to separate into symmetrical segments, beginning at the rear of the body, under the centrifugal force of projectile spin. The further opening of the body, which progresses along the weakened lines toward the nose, is such that the body segments are struck by the expanding muzzle gas which, in combination with the centrifugal force of spin, effects final separation and dispersal of body components. Projectile separation as described results in minimized muzzle velocity decay and dispersing effects on the sub-caliber core. Exterior configuration of the projectile is uniquely suited for automatic firing in modern, rapid-fire guns under variable environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A spin stabilized discarding sabot projectile adapted for firing from the muzzle of a gun comprising a sub-caliber core having a conical forward body portion and a generally cylindrical main body portion, a full-caliber sabot base having a forwardly extending member with a forwardly opening recess for receiving the core, a rotating band extending circumferentially around said base for imparting rotation to the projectile during traverse of a gun barrel, a sabot body covering the sub-caliber core, the sabot body having an internal recess for engaging the forwardly extending base member to mount the sabot body on the sabot base, said sabot body having a conical forward body portion, a plurality of grooves in said forward body portion, said sabot body having a rear body portion including a plurality of rear body segments threadedly secured to and extending rearwardly from the forward body portion in covering relationship to the core, said body segments being defined by slots extending longitudinally of the sabot body, a retaining ring for engaging the body segments adjacent the base for securing the body segments in fixed relation to each other, and for cooperating with the rear body portion to secure the core in axial alignment with said projectile, said retaining ring for fracturing on the application of centrifugal force to the projectile and for releasing the body segments of the sabot body to separate radially from the core initially at the rear portion of the sabot body and to further separate from the core progressively toward the forward body portion so that the rearwardly separated body segments are exposed to the force of propelling gases issuing from a gun barrel which gases impinge upon the body segments to discard the sabot body from the sub-caliber core, and so that the sabot base is exposed to aerodynamic drag forces for removal from the core.

2. The projectile defined in claim 1 in which the base and the body segments are recessed to receive the securing ring.

3. The projectile according to claim 1 in which the longitudinally extending slots comprise serrated interfaces between the body segments.